268 
January 0. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER, 
“ Lady Carmichael, for the neatest kept Cottage, in tlie 
parish of SldrUng, 10s.—for the second best, 7s.—for the 
third best, Os. 
“W. S. Orr, h'iSq., .\men Corner, London, for the neatest 
kept Cottage, interior and exterior, with front ornamented 
with dowers, also best kept Garden, in the parislics of 
reebles and Innerleithen, a copy of the Illustrated Shak- 
sjiere ; value. One Guinea. 
“AV. S Orr, Esq., to the occupant of the neatest kept 
Gate Lodge, interior and exterior, with front ornamented 
with dowers, and well kept Garden, in the county of 
Peebles, iOs. 
“ LaUy Montgomery, for the finest and purest Honey, fit 
for the table, for Cottagers only, lOs. 
“ Lady Montgomery, for the prettiest Flower-Basket, 
made by the exhibitor, open to the whole Society, at July 
Exhibition, os. 
“ W. Cliambcrs, Esq., of Glenormiston, for the most exact 
and best kept set of Meteorological Tables, for the year 
185;!, beginning with 1st of January, and ending with 31st of 
December, in the pai'ishes of Peebles and Innerleithen; 
open to all classes of members, LI Is. *Copies of blank 
forms for entering daily observations will be given by the 
Secretai-y; and intending competitors must hand in their 
names to liim on or before the 25th of December, 1852. 
This prize will be awarded at the July Exhibition, 1854. 
“Archibald Craig, Esq., South Biidge, Edinbirrgh, for the j 
best and neatest kept Cottage Door, and ornamented with 
dowers, in the parish of Eddlestoue, 10s.; for the second 
best, 7s. 6d.; for the third best, 5s.; for the fomtli best, 
2s. 6d. There must be at least eight competitors. It is 
distinctly understood that no uccuqtant of gentlemen’s lodges 
can compete for this prize.” 
It may be added, that there are likewise a few sweep- 
stakes ; the competition in such cases being a kind of wager 
between two neighbours as to the production of certain 
dowers or vegetables. 
Such may be accepted as a familiar account of the 
Peebles-shire Horticultui-al Society, which, considering the 
character of the district, has succeeded in its praise-worthy 
aims beyond all expectation. Tlie sphere of oi^eration is a 
county of small size, composed principally of the valley of 
the Tweed, in the upper and more pastoral region of that 
classic stream. The cUstrict is environed with brown hills, 
which, though favourable to the production of mutton and 
grouse, are not altogether friendly to horticultural pursuits. 
Yet, under certain disadvantages with regard to climate, 
placed aloof from the stimulating movements of an energetic 
and busy age, and depending entirely on its own resources, 
this small county, through the agency of a few active- 
minded individuals, has started forward in the race of 
horticultural improvement, and its exhibitions, as regards 
out-door productions, are inonounccd by comp)etent autho¬ 
rities to eipal any thing of the kind in the most highly- 
favoured districts of England. On a future occasion, we 
hope to bo able to make widely known through those pages 
the names of those competitors whose peculiar success seems 
deserving of approbation. 
With so much to be said in commendation, it would be 
strange if the proceedings of the society in question did not 
suggest rellections of a somewhat less pleasing character. 
It deserves notice, that here, as elsewhere, discussions have 
arisen respecting matters which, for anything that can be 
foreseen, already bear within them the elements of dissolu¬ 
tion. AVe iiro the more inclined to speak unreservedly on 
this branch of the subject, from a desire to oiler a candid 
and friendly warning before it be too late, not only to the 
members of the present institution, but to others, in what¬ 
ever quarter of the country they may be iiluced. 
The first thing to which we would thus admouitorily refer, 
is the system of preparing plants, fruits, or other ailicles 
for competition, at an expense of time, trouble, and money, 
inlinitely beyond the actual value of the thing, and to all 
appearance for the glory of obtaining a place in the list of 
successful competitors. Emulation, earned to this undue 
length, is evidently an evil. The struggle may be said to 
be in some respects a competition of purse against purse, 
instead of skill against skill, and as such, is adverse to 
every sound principle of economics. It can surely serve no 
good purpose, to produce half-a-dozen monster leeks at a 
I cost of a load of valuable manure, or a few bunches of | 
I grapes at an outlay of LS for extra fuel, exclusive of trouble ’ 
and time beyond all reasonable allowance. A procedure of j 
this kind is not horticulture at all: it is a vulgar forcing of > 
nature beyond her legitimate bounds, and, if not checked, i 
I can terminate only in general disgust and disaster. Among j 
amateurs and cottagers who employ their own means in 
these supernatural forcings, the practice is less objection¬ 
able than among gentlemen’s gardeners; for, in the latter ! 
case, the moans belong to another. No doubt, the costly 
experiments of these horticulturists are in many instances 
effected with the sanction of their employer; but this 
scarcely saves the practice from condemnation. It should 
be the pride and duty of gardeners to conduct their opera¬ 
tions on an economical scale, and work more by professional ; 
knowledge than the jiowers of excessive and costly forcing. I 
One thing is certain, that no body of gentlemen will long | 
continue to support any institution that causes an habitual i 
and unreasonable outlay. It may be gratifying for a season ; 
I to see their servants carrying off prizes of half-crowns; but j 
' when employers calculate that for every half-crowu so gained ! 
j by then- gardener, they themselves are called on to expend j 
1 a pound for manure, or for some special apparatus, their ! 
enthusiasm for horticulture may justly be expected to de- j 
dine, and finally expire, leaving nothing but disappoint¬ 
ment behind. 
The question as to how far any class of competitors 
should go in the matter of forcing, is not susceptible of a | 
distinct solution. Common sense ought to regulate the 
employment of means, keeping a certain end in view. Some 
j persons have objected to the use of glass, but glass, we 
' apprehend, falls within a proper system of culture ; and, 
indeed, all expedients that are dictated by science and prac¬ 
tical art, are not only permissible, but commendable. AVe. 
are quite aware that on the subject of means to ends, the 
society has a delicate piart to perform. Yet, it is the duty of 
a society to adopt some suitable method of placing horticul¬ 
tural experiment on a footing that will prove permanent 
and beneficial. It can never be supposed that an institution ; 
is to stand by unconcernedly, and see itself destroyed, j 
Something it may do by way of recommendation or address, 1 
and all else failing, it may call for a declaration as to the 
cost of production from competitors. A hint on this subject 
is enough. 
Another unfortunate feature of societies of this kind is 
the jealousy which is introduced into a neighbourhood. 
Numbers, of course, care not who overlook their operations, 
and watch the ijrogress and quality of their plants and 
llowers. Others are more sensitive. They are afraid to 
have their gardens intruded upon, wliile the grand competi¬ 
tion cabbage, or the wonderful half-dozen pet anemones, are 
coming to maturity. Now, this is a very undesirable terror. 
AVe like to entertain kindly ideas of gardening and gardeners 
of every grade, and feel that a spirit of exclusiveness is ; 
quite at variance with all that is commendable in art. The j 
gentlest possible remonstrance on this, as on tlie foregoing 
point, is, it may be hoped, sufficient. : 
AA’ith these observations, we would beg to draw our i 
account of a provincial horticultural society in Scotland to ' 
a conclusion. Tlie institution, we are glad to learn, lias 
already made a visible impression on the taste of the dis¬ 
trict. On the highway between Edinburgh and Peeble.s, 
stands the small village of Eddlestone, and here the door¬ 
ways of the cottagers were for ages in a most untidy eon- j 
dition. Now, through the efficacy of small prizes distributed ' 
by the horticultm’al society, the cottages have assumed 
quite a different appearance. Stagnant pools and dung- : 
heaps have vanished from the scene, and plots of garden 
with roses and honeysuckles rise pleasingly into view. In 
other quarters, similar' advances are 2 ’t'rccptible. Eeo- 
husbandry has made a marked progress, and we can con¬ 
fidently say, that the finest honey which could be produced 
was shewn at Peebles last September exhibition. Nor are 
social habits left untouched. Leisure hours, which foi'merly 
were spent in the public-house, are now devoted to liortrcul- 
i ture. The best powers of the mind, once lying dormant, 
have been stimulated into activity; and k-UJi a prudent reynrd 
of means to ends, we anticipate that the society to which we 
have taken the liberty to draw attention, will yet achieve 
much higher results.—AV. Ch am bers. 
